- GBP/USD trades softer around 1.2630 in Wednesday’s early Asian session.
- The US Durable Goods Orders rose 1.4% in February against a 6.9% fall in January, better than expected.
- BoE’s Mann dampened expectations for large interest rate cuts this year.
The GBP/USD pair edges lower to 1.2620 during the early Asian trading hours on Wednesday. The major pair remains capped under the key 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). Many Federal Reserve (Fed) policymakers stick to their path of interest-rate cuts amid the bumpy road to inflation and expect to cut rates three times in 2024, which might weigh on the Greenback. On Thursday, the US and UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data will be released.
Despite recent monthly inflation increases, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last week that pricing pressures would continue to ease and that it may be appropriate to cut interest rates later this year. The majority of US central bank officials expect to cut rates three times in 2024. These remarks push the Fed's stance more dovish and drag the US Dollar (USD) lower in recent sessions.
About the data, the US Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence fell to 104.7 from a downwardly revised 104.8 in February. Meanwhile, the Durable Goods Orders for February came in better than market expectations, rising 1.4% in February from a 6.9% fall in January. The US Dollar Index (DXY) consolidates around 104.30 following the release of US economic data as traders await fresh clues from the US February Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE) data on Friday.
On the other hand, the Bank of England's (BoE) Catherine Mann, one of the BOE's most hawkish policymakers, warned that financial markets are expecting too many interest rate cuts this year and that the BoE is unlikely to move before the US Fed. "I think they're pricing in too many cuts," Mann said. Traders will take more cues from UK GDP growth numbers on Thursday, which are estimated to contract 0.3% QoQ and 0.2% YoY in the fourth quarter. In the case of stronger-than-expected GDP growth number data, the Pound Sterling (GBP) could gain traction and act as a tailwind for the GBP/USD pair.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD treads water just above 1.0400 post-US data
Another sign of the good health of the US economy came in response to firm flash US Manufacturing and Services PMIs, which in turn reinforced further the already strong performance of the US Dollar, relegating EUR/USD to the 1.0400 neighbourhood on Friday.
GBP/USD remains depressed near 1.2520 on stronger Dollar
Poor results from the UK docket kept the British pound on the back foot on Thursday, hovering around the low-1.2500s in a context of generalized weakness in the risk-linked galaxy vs. another outstanding day in the Greenback.
Gold keeps the bid bias unchanged near $2,700
Persistent safe haven demand continues to prop up the march north in Gold prices so far on Friday, hitting new two-week tops past the key $2,700 mark per troy ounce despite extra strength in the Greenback and mixed US yields.
Geopolitics back on the radar
Rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine caused renewed unease in the markets this week. Putin signed an amendment to Russian nuclear doctrine, which allows Russia to use nuclear weapons for retaliating against strikes carried out with conventional weapons.
Eurozone PMI sounds the alarm about growth once more
The composite PMI dropped from 50 to 48.1, once more stressing growth concerns for the eurozone. Hard data has actually come in better than expected recently – so ahead of the December meeting, the ECB has to figure out whether this is the PMI crying wolf or whether it should take this signal seriously. We think it’s the latter.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.